Hawaii 1999: 199900176.jpg

Looking down the coast from near the end of the road. The steam cloud in the distance is coming from the lava entering the ocean. It's a four mile hike across fresh lava flows to get close to the eruption. The park allows visitors to make the trek, but tries its best to discourage people by giving details about 27 acre bench collapses (when huge hunks of seemingly solid ground fall into the ocean), scalding hot rogue waves, posionous and glass-shard laden fumes, and so on.

24 April 1999